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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



\ vV\ 



ffiartxmvil Cjroug^ts, 



BY 



REV. AMOS W, SEELY, A, M. 



n 



AUTHOR OF PEACTICAL THOUGHTS, ETC. 



"The entraDce of thy words giveth light." 







frank Mcelroy, steam book and job printer, 

No. 113 Nassau Street. 



y«?/ 



1861. 






■ 



4^ 



&//4, *X?r 






A 



Entered according to act of Congress, in the year 1861, by^ 

AMOS W. SEELY, 

In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United/ 
States, for the Southern District of New- York. 



2- II « 



^ttUtt. 



The Author has no apology to offer for presenting a few 
Doctrinal Thoughts, on 6ome of the most interesting topics, 
to the public. Others express freely their opinions, the 
Writer claims the same privilege. 

The object in this, as in other productions, is to be brief, 
comprehensive and to the point. The first appeal will be 
to the word of God. " To the law and to the testimony, if 
they speak not according to this word, it is because there 
is no light in them. ,, The understanding will be addressed 
and appeals made to the common sense of individuals. 
"Magna est Veritas, et prsevalebit." Truth is powerful, 
and will ultimately prevail. 



© ® SJ "JE IB SJ IP B 



V). Page 

1. Theory and Practice, - - 7 

2. Original and Actual Sin, ----- 9 

3. Self-Examination, - 11 
£. The Divinity of Christ, - - 13 

5. The Trinity in Unity, - 14 

6. The Obedience of Christ, - 16 

7. Our Retnrn to God, - - - - . - 18 

8. Immersion, - - - - - - - -21 

P. The Baptism of Infants, ----- 51 

10. Close Communion, ------ 61 

11. An Exposition of Romans 8:29, - - - 64 

12. A Precious Thought, - - - - - - 73 

13. The Perse veranee of the Saints, 74 

14. Thoughts for a Young Convert, - - - - 75 

15. Thoughts for a Back-slider, 81 

16. The Safe Side, - 85 

ft. Detached Thoughts, ----- 87 



DOCTRINAL THOUGHTS. 



1* Theory and Practice. 

It has been said, " No matter what a 
man's creed is, if his life be correct." Nothing 
can be more erroneous than this. It is mani- 
festly opposed to the word of God. We are 
commanded to " buy the truth and sell it 
not." Says the Saviour in his intercessory 
prayer, " Sanctify them through thy truth, 
thy word is truth." We believe, therefore, 
in the importance of the theory as well as 
practice. They are both dwelt upon in the 
inspired volume. Some want one part of the 



8 DOCTRINAL THOUGHTS. 

bible suppressed, and some another part, as 
the fancy may lead them in the exhibition 
of their own sentiments and preconceived 
opinions ; but we want the whole, in its con- 
nection, the context as well the text, the 
entire word of God, from Genesis to Revela- 
tion : that scripture may be faithfully com- 
pared with scripture^ that the truth may be 
seen in its consistency and grandeur, and its 
saving effect be felt on the hearts and con- 
sciences of men. 

"Hold fast the form of sound words. 
Earnestly contend for the faith which was 
once delivered unto the saints." 



DOCTRINAL THOUGHTS. 9 

2. Original and Actual Sin. 

The shorter catechism of the Westminster 
Assembly asks the question, What is sin? 
and replies, " Sin is any want of conformity 
unto, or transgression of the law of God." 
Some deny that there is any such thing as 
original sin. 

What kind of an exposition, then, will 
they give of Rom. 5:14. " Nevertheless, death 
reigned from Adam to Moses even over them 
that had not sinned after the similitude of 
Adam's transgression." They had not sinned 
after the sirailitude of Adam's transgression ; 
but were they sinners in no sense of the 
term ? That is the question. If they were 
sinners in no sense of the term ; why, then, 
did death reign from Adam to Moses ? 

If actual 'An cannot be attributed to infants, 
bemg destitute of a knowledge of the law of 
God, then must original sin be attributed to 



10 DOCTRINAL THOUGHTS. 

them, that is, they are regarded and treated 
as sinners through. Adam as the Federal Head 
and Representative of the human race. The 
doctrine of the imputation of Adam's sin, 
and the imputation of Christ's righteousness 
must stand or fall together. " For as by one 
man's disobedience, many were made sinners, 
so by the obedience of One, shall many be 
made righteous." Rom. 5:19. 

If infants are destitute of both actual and 
original sin, what need is there of baptism ? — 
If infants are not sinners, should they die in 
their infancy, they would not be lost, because 
none but sinners are lost. 

Moreover. If infants are sinners in no 
sense of the term, should they die in their 
infancy, they could not enter heaven ; for, 
none but those whose sins have been washed 
away in atoning blood are permitted to enter 
the blessed abodes of paradise. What, there- 
fore, shall become of them ? 



DOCTRINAL THOUGHTS. 11 

I believe that all infants and those who 
have never been in possession of their reason, 
will be saved; but I cannot indulge the 
idea unless I also believe that they are sin- 
ners, and that if they should finally be saved, 
they must be saved through Christ. 



3. Self-Examination* 

Some persons are so vain as to imagine 
that they are not sinners, that they have 
lived without sin even for years. Had they 
been faithful with their own hearts in the 
great duty of self-examination enjoined in 
the word of God, never would they have 
arrived at such an absurd conclusion. 

By self-examination did the Apostle Paul 
arrive at those correct views of himself, fur- 



12 DOCTRINAL THOUGHTS. 

nisked us in the Seventh Chapter to the 
Romans. — In another place, he says, " Not 
as though I had already attained, either were 
already perfect, but I follow after, if that I 
may apprehend that for which also I am 
apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count 
not myself to Irave apprehended, but this one 
thing I do ; forgetting those things which, are 
behind and reaching forth unto those things 
which are before, I press toward the mart 
for the prize of the high calling of God in 
Christ Jesus." Philip 3:12—14. 

Again. " If we say that we have no sin 
we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in 
us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and 
just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us 
from all unrighteousness. If we say that we 
have not sinned, we make him a liar and his 
word is not in us." I John, 1:8 — 10. 



DOCTRINAL THOUGHTS. 13 

4. The Divinity of Christ. 

The leading truth of the Christian system. 
is, the Divinity of Jesus Christ. " Who } 
being in the form of God; thought it no* 
robbery to be equal with God." Philip 2:6. 
It would be robbery for any mere man, or 
any one of the Angelic host to presume to be 
equal with God, or to be "One with the 
Father," as the Saviour professes himself to 
be. John 10:30. 

Again. " We know that the Son of God 
is come, and hath given us an understanding, 
that we may know him that is true ; and we 
are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus 
Christ. This is the true God and eternal 
life" I John 5:20. In the verse last quoted, 
Jesus Christ is called God, the true God, and 
an eternal God : and if eternal, self-existent. 
Consequently, Jesus Christ must be God, 
equal with the Father. This eternal life was 



14 DOCTRINAL THOUGHTS. 

manifested. The Divine Life, or Word in- 
carnate presented and evinced itself to the 
senses of the Apostles and others. Vide I. 
John 1—3. Comp. I. Tim. 3:16. 



•oo- 



&• The Trinity in Unity. 

"God said, Let us make man in our 

image." Gen. 1:26. Some say, If you admit 
this to be an address to the Son, and to the 

Holy Ghost, you admit too much and assert 
that there are three Gods instead of One. 
We reply, We do not admit too much, nor 
do we inculcate the sentiment that there are 
three Gods. If we admit no more than the 
bible admits, we do not admit too much. 
Let us adhere closely to the word of God, 
taking it as a lamp unto our feet and a light 
unto our path, and we shall be in no danger 



DOCTRINAL THOUGHTS. 15 

of travelling out of the way. The danger 
lies in departing from the sacred oracles. 

Notwithstanding this address to the Son, 
and to the Holy Ghost, there is but One God. 
In the language of the larger catechism of 
the Westminster Assembly, " There be three 
persons in the Godhead; the Father, the Son, 
and the Holy Ghost : and these three are 
One, true, eternal God ; the same in substance, 
equal in power and glory — although distin- 
guished by their personal properties." The 
unity of God, is as clear as his existence. 
The unity of God is intentionally marked in 
the 27th verse of the first chapter of Genesis, 
where the expressions us and our are changed 
into he and his. Compare the 26th and 27th 
verses of this first chapter of Genesis, 26th 
verse, "God said, Let us make man in our 
image." 27th verse, " So God created man 
in his own image, in the image of God created 
he him." 



16 DOCTRINAL THOUGHTS. 

Here we have an early intimation of the 
Trinity not only, but of the Trinity in Unity; 
a doctrine which pervades the entire word of 
God. The doctrine of the Trinity in Unity 
is the basis of all revealed religion. To deny 
the proper Deity of the Son and of the Holy 
Ghost, is to invalidate the redemption of the 
One, and the gracious operations of the other, 
or a denial of these great truths tends to des- 
troy the christian system. 



■oo- 



6. The Obedience of Christ. 

It is a great and deeply interesting truth 
that Christ obeyed the law perfectly, but his 
obedience by no means sets aside the moral 
law as a rule of life. Had he not rendered 
this obedience we (as fallen beings) never 



DOCTRINAL THOUGHTS. 17 

could have rendered it, and consequently must 
have perished forever. But blessed be his 
name, he has rendered it for us, and by his 
active and passive obedience has wrought out 
a righteousness which can, in consistency with 
his character, be imputed to believers, that is, 
be set down to their account, and they re- 
garded and treated through him as if they 
were righteous. This finished and ever! asting 
righteousness may be set down, thus, to the 
account of all who will heartily accept it as 
a "free gift." This is the onlv method of 
salvation. The great question is, are we 
willing to be saved in this way, the way that 
exalts God and abases the creature? . If so, 
we shall furnish the evidences in our life, in 
our daily walk and conversation, we sHall 
yield "the peaceable fruit of righteousness." 
We shall adorn the doctrine of God our 
Saviour in all things. We shall be epistles 
commendatory of Christianity, written in the 



18 DOCTRINAL THOUGHTS. 

hearts of its faithful Teachers, " known and 
read of all men," 



7. Our Return to God. 

To the inquiry, Do you desire to return to 
God? an affirmative answer is frequently 
given by the unregenerate. But we have no 
confidence in a desire which controls not the 
heart, the life, the walk and conversation. 
The impenitent may desire salvation, but 
they do not desire to be saved from their 
sins. They are afraid of the consequences of 
being lost. In order to enter heaven, we 
must be willing to be saved in God's appoint- 
ed way. We must desire such a salvation as 
is in reserve for all the obedient subjects and 
servants of the Most High. The moment the 



DOCTRINAL THOUGHTS. 19 

heart of an individual is actuated by a desire 
of this kind, that moment he adopts the 
resolution of the prodigal, " I will arise and 
go to my father." To cherish such a desire, 
and not return unto God, is a contradiction 
in terms. 

It is said that the unconverted have desires, 
but that they are 6i so weak and transient as 
to produce no permanent effect." We affirm, 
on the other hand, it is not because desires 
are weak that a permanent effect is not pro- 
duced, but rather because the desires are not 
genuine. We are given to understand how 
great things weak faith, even faith " as a 
grain of mustard seed" may accomplish. 
Wherefore ? For the obvious reason, that it 
is genuine. In like manner, desire, notwith- 
standing it be weak, provided it be genuine, 
will cause our return to God. 

Moreover. Some assert that mankind, by 
nature, have something good in them, that is 



20 DOCTRINAL THOUGHTS. 

something upon which God looks with com- 
placency — that if the unregenerate walk " ac- 
cording to the light that is in them, according 
to the grace already given," they will natur- 
ally take the strait and narrow path to 
heaven — all of which is opposed to the senti- 
ment of the Apostle Paul, "I know that in 
me (that is in my flesh) dwelleth no good 
thing." Rom. 7:18. 



DOCTRINAL THOUGHTS. 21 



8. Immersion. 

ft is remarkable that after all that has been 
said and written in favor of immersion as the 
only proper mode of baptism; so much as 
the word immersion cannot be found in the 
scriptures either of the Old or New Testa- 
ments.* 

How different from the word sprinkling and its correlative 
terms ! 

«. SPRDNiKILI. 

Exod. 29:16, 20. Levit. 1:5, 11. Levit. 3:2, 8, 13. 
Levit. 4:6, 17. Levit. 5:9. Levit. 7:2. Levit. 14:7, 1G, 
27, 51 Levit. 16:14, 15, 19. Levit. 17:6. Num. 8:7. 
Num. 18:17. Num. 19:4, 18, 19. II. Kings, 16:15. Isa. 
52:15. Ezek 36:25. Ezek. 43:18. 

Exod. 24:6, 8. Levit. 6; 27.' Levit. 8:19, 24, 30. Levit. 

9:12, 18. Num. 19:13, 20. II. Kings, 16:13. II. Chr. 

29:22 II. Chr 30:16. II. Chr. 35:11. Heb. 9:19, 21 
Heb. 10:22. 

3. SPRDNRUnrN. 

Levit. 7:14 Num. 19.21. 



22 DOCTBINAL THOUGHTS. 

The original of baptize is j3anri^G) i which 
is derived from /3a7rro). As Panru is the root 
from which pann^o) is derived, it is worthy 
of careful attention. 



1. BanrG). 

That this W3rd signifies to immerse, as one 
of its significations, is admitted. But say 
some, it signifies to immerse and nothing 
else ; therefore baptism and immersion are 
one and the same thing. If the fallacy of 
this can be shown in a single instance, the 
argument for exclusiveness falls to the ground. 
A portion of our authority to demonstrate 
that this exclusiveness is remote from the 
truth, is the following. The term is employ- 
ed in the Sejptuagint translation of the bible, 

Heb. 9:13. Heb. 11:28. Heb 12:24. I. Pet. 1:2. 



DOCTRINAL THOUGHTS. 23 

4:33. "His body was wet (e6a<prj) with the 
dew of heaven." Language will not tolerate 
the expression his body was immersed with 
dew, or in dew. 

employs the term to express ? staining the 
hand with a certain substance pressed in it." 

uses it to express '' hesmearing the face with 
certain washes." 

"employs it (j3anTG)) to denote dyeing by 
dropping the dyeing liquid on the thing 
dyed, eneidav emoTaty em ra i\iana fSanrerai. 
When it drops upon the garments they are 



24 DOCTRINAL THOUGHTS. 

dyed" Carson's admission p. 60. The learn- 
ed baptist author continues, " This surely is 
not dyeing by dipping." 



employs the term to express "coloring or 
staining sl lake with blood." Other author- 
ities might be cited, but they are unneces- 
sary. — We shall arrive at the same conclusion 
with regard to the exclusiveness spoken of 
above when we consider 



2. Banri^G). 

Heb. 9:10. The Apostle speaking of the 
Jewish worship, says, " Which stood only in 
meats and drinks, and divers washings." 
QaTTTLOfioig, baptisms. It seems that the wash- 
ings or baptisms were not confined to any 
one mode ; they were divers, different, * ari- 



DOCTRINAL THOUGHTS. 25 

ous. In the ceremonial washings here ex- 
pressed by the term used for baptisms, water 
was applied by pouring and sprinkling, as 
well as by dipping; but most of them were 
accomplished by sprinkling* Moreover. It 
is believed that the Apostle had a principal 
reference to the divers baptisms performed 
by sprinkling ; that sprinkling is the favorite 
mode of the bible, I trust, will become more 
and more apparent as we proceed. The in- 
spired penman contrasts the former dispen- 
sation with that of which Christ is High 

* Our baptist brethren assert, notwithstanding all the 
evidences to the contrary, that there is but one baptism, 
viz, immersion (that sprinkling and pouring are not baptisms) 
and that the unity of baptism consists in unity of mode. 
The unity of baptism does not consist in unity of mode, 
but the unity of baptism does consist, as it has been felici- 
tously remarked, "in the unity of design, the unity of 
signification, unity with regard to the great truths to which 
it refers, unity in the one body into which we are all 
baptized by the same spirit." This is the only correct 
and consistent interpretation of the passage, " One Lord, 
one faith, one baptism.' y 



26 DOCTRINAL THOUGHTS. 

Priest. "He has told us in what the first 
dispensation stood, and he goes on to say- 
in what the new dispensation does not stand. 
Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but 
by his own blood. For if the blood of bulls 
and of goats, and the ashes of a heifer 
sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the 
purifying of the Jlesh, how much more shall 
the blood of Christ purge your conscience. 
He specifies here what washings (baptisms) 
or purify ings he speaks of; and the only 
ones which he specifies are those performed 
with blood and with the ashes of a heifer 
sprinkling the unclean. The persons and 
things purified were never immersed in 
blood* they were sprinkled / and these 

* The persons and things purified were never immersed 
in blood, but the writer has heard the sentiment proclaimed 
from the pulpit, that persons were immersed in the Holy 
Ghost. The speaker endeavored to substantiate his doc- 
trine from Acts 2:2. u And suddenly there came a 
sound fram heaven as of a rushing mighty wind and it filled 



DOCTRINAL TElOUGHTS. 27 

sprinklings Paul here call baptisms. It 
should be noticed too that as the sprinkling 
of the blood of bulls and of the ashes of a 
heifer sanctified to the purifying of the flesh, 

all the house where they were sitting/' This said he was 
immersion, just as that river (pointing to a river near by) 
and these houses were a few days days ago immersed in the 
fog. — Surely ! he must have been hard pressed, to prove 
the doctrine of baptism by immersion ! 

I introduce in this connection, the passage, " I indeed 
baptize you with water unto repentance ; but he that 
eometh after me, is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not 
worthy to bear : he shall baptize you with the Holy 
Ghost and with fire." Mat. 3:11. The rendering of this 
text to meet the views of some of our baptist brethren is as 
follows, I indeed immerse you in water unto repentance ; 
but he that eometh after me, is mightier than I, whose san- 
dals I am not worthy to bear : he will immerse you in Holy 
Spirit and fire. "What abuse of the Analogy of language, and 
of the sense and and meaniDg of the Spirit ! 

When our Saviour speaks of his disciples being baptized 
with the Holy Ghost, it is in allusion to the descent, the 
pouring out of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost ; 
and when John the Baptist predicted that they should be 
baptized with the Holy Ghost and with fire, it is in refer- 
ence to the Holy Ghost " sitting upon each of them as with 
cloven tongues of fire." Assuredly! There is nothing 
here like immersion ! 



28 DOCTRINAL THOUGHTS. 

so the application of the blood of Christ, 
which purgeth the conscience^ is repeatedly 
called the sprinkling (never the immersing) 
of the blood of Christ.* To see more of the 
divers baptisms by sprinkling, consult further 
this (9th) chapter to the Hebrews, 19th and 
21st vs., in connection with Num. 19:17, 18. 
Num. 8:7. Levit. 14:7. I. Pet. 1:2, etc. 

Let us direct our attention to Mark 7:4. 
" When they come from the market, except 
they wash (j3anTt.<7(*)VTai, baptize) they eat 
not. It is not probable that the word here 
signifies immersion. I appeal to the com- 
mon sense of individuals whether the Phari- 
sees every time they came from the market, 
immersed themselves before eating ! 

Even in washing the hands, it is not neces- 
sary that they be immersed. Who invariably 

* Rev. Edwin Hall, D. D., Professor of Didactic and 
Polemic Theology, in the Theological Seminary at Au- 
burn, N. Y. 



DOCTRINAL THOUGHTS. 29 

immerses his hands, when he washes them ? 
May not a person wash or baptize his hands 
at a spoict of water independently of immer- 
sion ? — The Pharisees commonly washed their 
hands *' in running water, as streaming from 
a pitcher or from a watering pot." We are 
informed that the following practice is con- 
tinued in the East to this day, « Before meals, 
a servant comes round with a pitcher and 
pours water on the hands of those about to 
eat, or they are otherwise cleansed with run- 
ning or streaming water." See II. Kings 
3:11. 

" And many other things there be, which 
they have received to hold ; as the washing 
of cups, and pots, and brazen vessels and 
tables." Mark 7:4. In this passage, the 
word translated washing, is in the original 
jSanrcGfiofig, baptisms ; and here the term is 
used to express any hind of washing. Some 
of the articles mentioned may have been put 



30 DOCTRINAL THOUGHTS. 

under water when they were washed or 
baptized, but we have no confidence in the 
doctrine that the tables were submerged, when 
they were washed or baptized. '' The word 
here translated tables is kXlvmv, and properly 
signifies beds or couches. They had no 
chairs, and these couches were a kind of sofa 
or divan on which they were accustomed to 
sit, leaning on each other, according to the 
usual mode of sitting in those days. To 
suppose that the beds or "couches were im- 
mersed^ would be preposterous, especially if 
we consider the superstition of the Jews, 
which led them to practice these purifications 
many times in a day. To have immersed 
their couches so often would have kept them 
constantly unfit for use."* 

The Evangelist informs us that John bap- 
tized great multitudes. Then went out to 

* Rev. Absalom Peters, D. D. 



D0CTK1NAL THOUGHTS. 31 

him Jerusalem, and all Judea, and all the 
region round about Jordan, and were baptized 
of him in Jordan ; confessing their sins 
Mat. 3:5, 6. '' The smallest estimate that wo 
can consider as answering the description of 
the inspired historians, is, that he baptized 
one hundred thousand individuals. And this 
in about one year and a half, That is, he 
must (on the supposition of immersion) have 
immersed nearly two hundred, upon an aver- 
age, every day, during the whole of the period 
in question. Now, I ask, is it possible for 
human strength, day after day, for more than 
five hundred days together, to undergo such 
labor ? To accomplish so much, it would 
have been necessary that the zealous Baptist 
should spend the whole of every day, standing 
in the water, for a year and a half"* There 

* The late Rev. Samuel Miller, D. D., Professor of 
Ecclesiastical History and Church Government in the 
Theological Seminary at Princeton ^ N J. 



32 DOCTRINAL THOUGHTS. 

are still other difficulties with which the 
advocates of immersion have to grapple. 

With regard to John's baptizing at Enon, 
near to Salim, because there was much 
there or as it is in the original because there 
were many waters there ; Dr. Miller, re- 
marks, "Independently of immersion, plentiful 
streams of water were absolutely necessary 
for the constant refreshment and sustenance 
of the many thousands who were encamped 
from day to day, to witness the preaching 
and the baptism of this extraordinary man ; 
together with the beasts employed for their 
transportation. Only figure to yourselves a 
large encampment of men, women and child- 
ren, consisting almost continually of many 
thousand souls, continuing together for a 
number of days in succession, constantly 
coming and going; and all this in a warm 
climate, where springs and wells of water 
were comparatively rare and precious ; only 



DOCTRINAL THOUGHTS. 33 

figure to yourselves such an assemblage and 
such a scene, and you will be at no loss to 
perceive why it was judged important to 
convene them near the banks of abundant 
streams of water. Had not this been done, 
they must, in a few hours, have either quitted 
the ground or suffered real distress." No 
marvel, therefore, that the Baptizer sought 
much water. Because there was much water 
there, because Jordan and Enon are spoken 
of, ergo, John must have baptized by im- 
mersion. How absurd ! 

Persons are said to have gone down into 
the water and to have come up out of the 
water. This proves conclusively, say some, 
that they must have been baptized by im- 
mersion. No ! It does not ; for, 

1. The original greek bears another trans- 
lation. The original informs us that they 



34 DOCTRINAL THOUGHTS. 

went down to the water and came up from 
the water. As the original for baptize 
means something else besides immersion, in 
like manner do the original words under con- 
sideration mean something else besides into 
and out of. To illustrate, " The devil taketh 
Mm (Jesus) up into an exceeding high moun- 
tain/ 5 Mat. 4:8. How did they get up into 
this exceeding high mountain ? Do you sup- 
pose the devil took Jesus up into the interior 
of this mountain ? Moreover. Do you sup- 
pose the devil took Jesus up into, the interior 
of this mountain in order to show him " all 
ihe kingdoms of the world and the glory of 
them? Vide also Mat. 5:1. Mat. 14:23. 
Mat. 17:27. "Notwithstanding, lest we should 
offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an 
hook," etc. The same original word (pre- 
position ecg) translated elsewhere into, is in 
this place translated to. 



DOCTRINAL THOUGHTS. 35 

2. Admitting, for argument's sake, that 
they did go into the water ; it never has been, 
nor can it be demonstrated that they were 
put tinder the water. They might have 
stepped into the water for the purpose of 
sprinkling, or pouring. The argument, 
u They went down into the water, therefore, 
they were immersed " : if it proves anything 
in favor of immersion, proves too much ; for, 
it proves that John and Philip, themselves, 
were immersed as well as others. 

Much has been said with reference to the 
baptism of our Saviour ; that we must follow 
him in this particular, that we must follow 
him into the water : and that if we do not, 
we manifest our indifference to him. In re- 
ply, I remark, it is impossible that we should 
follow him in the ''main particulars,' 7 the 
" essentials " of his baptism. The argument 
of our baptist brethren we find, again, proves 
too much, and therefore proves nothing. 



36 DOCTRINAL THOUGHTS. 

1. The Saviour was not baptized till he 
was thirty years old. Must we wait till we 
are thirty years of age, before we are bap- 
tized ? Who among the baptists, themselves, 
are careful to follow him here ? 

2. The Saviour was not baptized u unto re- 
pentance" Who are to follow him here ? 

3.. The Saviour was not baptized to << wash 
away sins" Who can follow him here ? 

4. He was not baptized " in the name of 
the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy 
Ghost ;" which is the only form of christian 
baptism. — Do not our baptist brethren baptize 
in these names ? Is this, then, following the 
Saviour — notwithstanding all that has been 
said with regard to following him ? 

p. The Saviour was baptized " as an in- 
troduction to his perpetual priesthood <." Who 
is to follow here ?r^-The law required those 



DOCTRINAL THOUGHTS. 37 

who were about to enter upon the priesthood 
to be purified. i6 Aaron and his sons thou 
shalt bring unto the door of the tabernacle 
of the congregation, and shalt wash them 
with water." Exod. 29:4. How wash them 
with water ? By immersion ? No ! By 
sprinkling ? Yes ! " Thus shalt thou do un- 
to them to cleanse them ; sprinkle water of 
purifying upon them." Num. 8:7. When 
Jesus came from Galilee to Jordan unto 
John to be baptized of him, John forbade 
him, saying, " I have need to be baptized of 
thee, and comest thou to me? And Jesus 
answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so 
now; for, thus it becometh us to fulfil all 
righteousness" that is, the righteousness re- 
quired in the law. Here we have a clue to 
the mode of the baptism of our Saviour per- 
formed by John, With all the circumstances 
of the case before me, I have not the shadow 
of a doubt that the Saviour was baptized by 



38 DOCTRINAL THOUGHTS. 

sprinkling. "What could that law of right- 
eousness mean, but purification by sprink- 
ling ? — If the Saviour did step into the water, 
which remains to be proved as we have seen 
from the above course of reasoning, the 
argument is all on the side of his being 
baptized by sprinkling. The case, as you 
perceive, is made out by a comparison of 
scripture with scripture. The New Testa- 
ment informs us that the Saviour was bap- 
tized, and by whom he was baptized, and 
there leaves us. The Old Testament in- 
structs how he was baptized. What language 
can be more clear and direct ? '' Thus shalt 
thou do unto them, to cleanse them ; sprinkle 
water of purifying upon them." No marvel 
some have so little to do with the Old Testa- 
ment. No marvel, as stated in our intro- 
ductory article, that some want one part of 
the bible suppressed, and some another part, 
as the fancy may lead them in the exhibition 



DOCTRINAL THOUGHTS. 39 

of their own sentiments and preconceived 
opinions. 

Remarks another, "If we had been baptized 
with John's baptism ever so ceremoniously ; 
in order to christian baptism, we must needs 
be baptized over again" See Acts 19 — 5. 

Rom. 6:3, 4. Col. 2:12. Here believers 
are said to be baptized into the death of 
Jesus Christ, and buried with him by baptism 
into death. These passages are greatly re- 
lied on by some in favor of baptism by 
immersion. Nevertheless, we maintain that 
they have no reference to the mode of bap- 
tism. In the language of another, " There 
is just as much reason to argue from them 
that believers are literally put to death in 
baptism, as that they are literally buried un- 
der water in baptism. Nay ! The dying, is 
the thing more insisted on, and indeed the 
principal idea, the one on which the whole 
force of the passage turns. They are buried 



40 DOCTKINAL THOUGHTS. 

with him by baptism into death. They are 
planted together in the likeness (not of his 
grave or burial) but in the likeness of his 
death. They are crucified with him. They 
are baptized not into his grave or burial, but 
into his death. If we are to infer the mode 
of baptism from these figures, the evidence 
is strongest for drawing a resemblance for 
the mode of baptism from hanging on the 
cross / for that was the mode of his dying, 
and the passage says we are crucified with 
him."* 

Another writer remarks on these passages, 
'' It is evident that he (the Apostle) is speak- 
ing of the spiritual meaning of baptism. It 
signified our union to Christ and conformity 
to him in his death, burial and resurrection. 
By baptism, we profess that as he died, so 
we have become dead to sin ; as he was 
buried, so sin in our souls should be buried ; 

* Rev. Edwin Hall, D. D. 



DOCTRINAL THOUGHTS. 41 

and as he rose from the dead, so should we 
rise unto newness of life. In the same con- 
nection, we are said by baptism, to be planted 
together in the likeness of his death, to have 
our old man crucified with him, and to be 
circumcised in him. If in the word huried, 
therefore, there is an allusion to the mode of 
baptism, there is equal reason to suppose an 
allusion in the words planted, crucified and 
circumcised which is not plead for. If we 
suppose the mode to be alluded to in these 
passages, we must carry the allusion through; 
and to be consistent and correct, must have 
something in the mode to express planting, 
crucifixion and circumcision^ as well as 
burial."* 

I. Cor. 10:2. The Apostle says, The Israel- 
ites "were all baptized unto Moses in the 
cloud and in the sea." From the quantity 
of water, this passage and that in I. Pet. 3 ch., 

* Rev. John McDowell, D. D. 



42 DOCTRINAL THOUGHTS. 

in relation to the " eight souls saved by 
water, the like figure whereunto even bap- 
tism doth also now save us ;" has been re- 
sorted to, to prove immersion. But neither 
the Israelites, nor Noah and his family were 
immersed. The Israelites " walked upon dry 
land,^ and the eight souls were saved by 
water, because they were safely inclosed in 
the arJc. This sentiment excludes the idea of 
immersion. Notwithstanding, " all the foun- 
tains of the great deep were broken up, and 
the windows of heaven were opened, and the 
rain was upon the earth forty days and forty 
nights," not even the arh itself which con- 
tained the eight souls, was immersed. No ! 
not with the quantity of water that was 
poured out upon the ark and the dashing of 
the spray. Here is spinMing and pouring, 
and this manifestation of water appears to 
be " the figure whereunto " the Apostle likens 
christian baptism. 



DOCTKINAL THOUGHTS. 43 

Moreover. It is as certain that the Israel- 
ites were not immersed, as it is certain they 
were baptized. They were baptized by 
sprinkling, by the spray of the sea, or by 
pouring, "such a pouring out of water as 
falls in drops. 5 ' Ps. 77:17; Or by sprinkling 
and pouring. What a perversion of bible 
record to say and to teach that the Israelites 
were baptized by immersion! " The children 
of Isreal walked upon dry land, in the midst 
of the sea and the waters were a wall unto 
them on their right hand and on their left." 
Exod. 14:29. The word immersion not be- 
ing found in the scriptures, it has been mis- 
applied. Immersion there was, but it had no 
reference, as has been stated, to the Israel- 
ites nor to the eight souls. Noah and his 
family were saved oy water, the ark majesti- 
cally floating '' upon the face of the 
waters." The Israelites were saved from 
water, saved from being submerged, saved 



44 DOCTRINAL THOUGHTS. 

from being drowned. Pharaoh and his 
host, and the old world were all immersed 
and found a watery grave. Here are 
two cases concerning which there can be 
no dispute, of persons being immersed: the 
Egyptians and the old world. Neither the 
terms haptized nor baptism were applied to 
them. — What, then, becomes of the doctrine 
so emphatically and perseveringly taught by 
some that baptism and immersion are one 
and the same thing ? What shall we think 
of those who assert from the sacred desk that 
the bible inculcates nothing on the subject 
of baptism, but immersion ? 

The term sprinkling and its correlatives 
are numerously used, as has been shown, in 
the Old and New Testaments. In comment- 
ing upon passages, I shall furnish but a 
specimen. 



D0CTJK1NAL THOUGHTS. 45 

«. TOI Q>£=B) TPiSTAWUNT. 

" So shall he sprinkle many nations." Isa. 
52:15. Many nations, not the Jews only. 
The Saviour by his sufferings and death 
" opened a fountain for sin and for unclean- 
ness." From this fountain many nations 
shall be sprinkled. The blood of sprinkling 
shall be applied to the consciences of those 
who compose these nations to purify them. 
Many nations shall be sprinkled by baptism. 
In the passage just quoted, there is a promise 
or prophecy which has had its accomplish- 
ment. Do you inquire when and how? I 
reply, by quoting another passage of Scrip- 
ture, "Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations, 
baptizing them in the name of the Father, 
and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." 
Mat. 28:19. It had its accomplishment, in 
part, in this commission when Christ sent 
his Apostles to teach all nations and to bap- 



46 DOCTRINAL THOUGHTS. 

tize them. Beloved reader can you fail to 
perceive we learn from the best authority 
that the term baptizing in Mat. 28:19. means 
the same thing, or is synonymous with the 
word sprinkle in Isa. 52:15 ? Let us contem- 
plate the passages in juxta-position. " So 
shall he sprinkle many nations." Isa. 52:15. 
"Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations, 
baptizing them in the name of the Father, 
and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." 
Mat. 28:19. I appeal to the understanding, 
whether the following is not a forced and 
unnatural inference from Isa. 52:15. Go ye, 
therefore, and teach all nations, immersing 
them in the name of the Father, and of the 
Son, and of the Holy Ghost. If immersing 
is a forced and unnatural inference, then a 
sabbath-school scholar can answer the ques- 
tion, What is the legitimate inference ? Or, 
in other words, what is the regular and 
natural inference ? 



DOCTRINAL THOUGHTS. 47 

Furthermore. "Then will I sprinkle clean 
water upon you, and ye shall be clean." Ezek. 
36:25. We are forcibly taught that the soul can 
be purified by sprinkling. It can be cleansed 
by sprinkling because the water is clean. It 
can be cleansed by sprinkling, because the 
blood of Christ is efficacious. "Sprinkling 
of the blood of Jesus Christ." This blood 
cleanses and saves. The mode by which it 
is effected is (through the operation of the 
Spirit) sprinkling. Here is the Antitype. 
What is the type ? Is it putting the entire 
person under water, as the mode of baptism? 
No ! Is it sprinkling ? Yes ! as clearly as 
the Antitype is that of which the type is the 
representation* This would be, to my own 
mind, conclusive were there no other argu- 
ment that could be advanced in support of 
the doctrine I am advocating. The sequence 

* Immersion, as has been justly remarked, "would spoil 
the resemblance and mar the significance of the sign." 



48 DOCTRINAL THOUGHTS. 

is inevitable, that the application of water 
to the candidate for baptism is more signifi- 
cantly and more scripturally administered 
by sprinkling than by immersion. 



" And to Jesus the Mediator of the new 
covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that 
speaketh better things than that of Abel." 
Heb. 12:24. This covenant is ratified by 
the blood of Christ sprinkled upon our con- 
sciences, as the blood of the sacrifice was 
sprinkled upon the altar and the sacrifice. 
This blood of Christ avails with God and 
purifies the consciences of men. 

u Elect according to the foreknowledge of 
God the Father, through sanctification of the 
Spirit unto obedience and sprinkling of the 
blood of Jesus Christ." I. Pet. 1:2. The 
strangers to whom the Apostle directed this 



DOCTRINAL THOUGHTS. 49 

epistle were designed by God's decree to be 
sanctified by the Spirit unto obedienee, and 
to be purified by the sprinkling of the blood 
of Jesus Christ. " Here is a manifest allusion 
to the typical sprinklings of blood under the 

law, which language these Jewish converts 
understood very well. The blood of the 
sacrifices must not only be shed, but sprinkled; 
to denote that the benefits designed thereby 
are applied and imputed to the offerers. 
Thus the blood of Christ, the Grand and all- 
sufficient Sacrifice, typified by the legal sacri- 
fices, was not only shed, but must be sprinkled 
and communicated to every one of these 
elect christians, that through faith in his 
blood they may obtain remission of sins. 
This blood of sprinkling justifies before God, 
seals the covenant between God and us, of 
which the Lord's Supper is a sign, cleanses 
from all sin, and admits us into heaven."* 
• Rev. Mathew Henry. 



50 DOCTRINAL THOUGHTS. 

This, then, is the important thing. Of 
what importance is the mere mode of baptism 
by water as administered by human instru- 
mentality compared with this ? Of what 
importance is a form of godliness without 
the power thereof? If we are not sprinkled 
with the blood, of Jesus Christ, If there is 
not a spiritual application of this blood to 
the soul. If we are not sanctified by the 
Spirit unto obedience, we have no hope of 
heaven and consequently no good foundation 
upon w r hich to build for eternity. 



DOCTRINAL THOUGHTS. 51 

9. The Baptism ©f Infants* 

A great deal has been said and written 
against the baptism of infants. The subject 
of infant dedication has been ridiculed by- 
some professing christians ; notwithstanding^ 
it is on record for our instruction that infants 
at eight days old were commanded to be cir- 
cumcised, that the churches under the Old 
and New Testament dispensations are the 
same, the difference being in the change of 
the ordinances. 

Baptism having taken the place of circum- 
cision, it is natural to conclude that infants 
as well as adults are to be baptized ; as it is 
natural to conclude that the first day of the 
week or the christian sabbath, is to succeed 
the seventh day or the Jewish sabbath; 
or as females are to be present at the 
table of the Lord, although there were 
none present at the institution of the supper. 



52 DOCTRINAL T[I OUGHTS. 

There is as much express command for one 
as for another. On the same principle that 
infant baptism is rejected, must the others 
(if the principle be carried out) be reject- 
ed. The seventh day baptists treat the chris- 
tian sabbath precisely as they do infant bap- 
tism. They admit nothing but express war- 
rant, consequently they reject both. One of 
the Teachers of this sect remarked 6i We feel 
that with our baptist brethren our arguments 
are unanswerable. They must either keep 
the seventh day as the sabbath, or else reject 
the very principles on which they reject in- 
fant baptism ; they must give up their argu- 
ment, or keep the seventh day, or else 
determine to act inconsistently and absurd 
ly." Notwithstanding, the baptists and the 
seventh day baptists are violating their own 
principles; the former in rejecting infanx 
baptism, the latter in admitting females to 
the communion. Both admit females to the 



DOCTRINAL THOUGHTS. 53 

communion. Here they are right ; but they 
are right in spite of their principles. They 
prefer to act inconsistently and absurdly 
rather than yield their argument. — How im- 
portant it is that we look well to our princi- 
ples, that we adopt those and those only that 
can be carried out with safety ; for that prin- 
ciple that will not work well throughout, 
should be abandoned at the outset. 

Let it suffice, then, for the present, that in- 
fants of believing parents were by the rite of 
circumcission acknowledged to be members 
of God's visible church, and that there is no 
command in the New Testament excluding 
them from that church. This very silence is 
one of the most powerful arguments that no 
change has been effected — that infants of be- 
lieving parents were left, where they are 
found, viz, in the church of God ; of which 
church they are acknowledged to be mem- 
bers by baptism. The i6 onus probandi," lies 



54 DOCTRINAL THOUGHTS. 

not on the Pedo-baptists. It falls not within 
our province to prove from scriptural author- 
ity the connection of infants with the church, 
but it belongs fo the opposers of infant ded- 
ication to show, if they are able, that infants 
are excluded from the christian church by 
pointing out the chapter and the verse. If 
they cannot do this ? let them hold their peace. 
So long as they cannot perform the task as- 
signed them, we will rejoice to believe and 
to teach that infants are proper subjects 
of baptism under the New Testament dispen- 
sation, as they were proper subjects of cir- 
cumcission under the Old Testament dispen- 
sation. 

In the discourse of Peter, Acts 2, we find 
that one of the motives by which he urges 
repentance and baptism upon his audience, 
is, " For the promise is unto you and to your 
children." Why was the Apostle so parti- 
cular as to speak of the children ? He 



DOCTRINAL THOUGHTS. 55 

knew well whom he was addressing. He 
was addressing those that understood per- 
fectly the relation of children to the church 
under the Old Testament dispensation, and 
the Speaker gave his audience to understand 
that their children were still cared for, under 
the New Testament dispensation, by the 
same great head of the church. They are 
by no means to be separated from you, they 
are by no means to be rejected by the church, 
and shut out from church privileges 5 there- 
fore, the argument : " For, the promise is 
unto you and to your children" Compare 
the passages, " I will pour my Spirit upon 
thy seed and my blessing upon thine offspring." 
Isa. 44:3. " As for me this is my covenant 
with them saith the Lord, My Spirit that is 
upon thee and my words which I have put 
in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy 
mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor 
out of the mouth of thy seed's seed saith the 



56 DOCTRINAL THOUGHTS. 

Lord from henceforth and forever." Isa. 
59:21. "I will establish my covenant be- 
tween me and thee, and thy seed after thee 
in their generations, for an everlasting cove- 
nant, to be a God unto thee and to thy seed 
after thee." Gen. 17:7: with, "Then Peter 
said unto them, Repent and be Baptized 
every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ, 
for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive 
the gift of the Holy Ghost ; for, the promise 
is unto you and to your children, and to all 
that are afar off, even as many as the Lord 
our God shall call." Aets 2:38, S9. Yes ! 
Other children besides yours. Though the 
promise is still extended to your children as 
formerly, it is not as formerly confined to 
them. Let the prejudiced argue as they 
please with regard to infant dedication. It 
is our unspeakable happiness to appeal " to 
the law and to the testimony," and there find 
it also written ior our encouragement, "That 



DOCTRINAL THOUGHTS. 57 

the blessing of Abraham might come on the 
Gentiles through Jesus Christ, that we might 
receive the promise of the Spirit through 
faith."* Gal. 3:14. 

The household baptisms as recorded in the 
New Testament are satisfactory evidences 
to the unprejudiced that infants as well as 
others were baptized. It is objected by 
some. 

1. It cannot be proved that there were in- 
fants in these households. 

The reply is sufficient, It cannot be proved 

* As circumcision has been done away, if nothing has 
come in its place, the privileges of believers with regard 
to their infant offspring are not so great under tbe New- 
Testament dispensation as they were under the Old Testa- 
ment dispensation. If nothing has come in the place of 
circumcision, the privileges of believers in relation to their 
infant offspring are not so great under this dispensation of 
meridian light, as they were under the shadowy and dark 
dispensation. A dispensation which (as says the Apostle) 
"had no glory, in this respect, by reason of the glory that 
excelleth." II Cor. 3:10. 



58 DOCTRINAL THOUGHTS. 

that there were not infants in these house- 
holds. Would not ministers of the everlast- 
ing gospel, would not those who have re- 
ceived the commission " Go ye therefore and 
teach all nations ; baptizing them in the 
name of the Father, and of the Son, and of 
the Holy Ghost ;" be warranted (with the 
household baptisms on record for their in- 
struction) should any unbaptized head of a 
family furnish evidence of his conversion to 
the Lord Jesus Christ and request baptism ; 
to baptize him and his household even if 
there were infants in that household ? As- 
suredly ! Should they fail to baptize infants, 
it would not be )ioiiseholcl baptism. 

Moreover. Should they not baptize in- 
fants, I inquire, how could they live in obedi- 
ence to the Divine command recently quoted ? 
Should they not baptize infants, how could 
they comply with the spirit of their commis- 
sion ? 



DOCTRINAL THOUGHTS. 59 

2. Admitting, says the Objector, that there 
were infants in these households, they were 
not capable of exercising repentance and 
faith ; therefore, they could not be baptized. 

I would inquire what understanding infants 
possessed who were commanded to be cir- 
cumcised at eight days old? In the dedica- 
tion of our infant offspring to God, they have 
always been represented by their Parents or 
Sponsors. The commands repent and believe 
were not addressed to infants, nor to idiots, 
even if the latter were adults ; but to those 
capable of exercising repentance and faith : 
therefore the argument of our baptist breth- 
eren is destitute of force. Consequently, the 
mere fact of infants not being capable of ex- 
ercising repentance and faith does hot ex- 
clude them from a participation in the holy 
rite of baptism, any more than a want of 
knowledge excludes them from civil rights. — 
The mode of reasoning by our baptist brethren 



60 DOCTRINAL THOUGHTS. 

as embodied in the second prominent objec- 
tion, just stated, would render it impossible 
for infants to be saved. The tendency of 
doctrine like this, is to close the portals of 
everlasting blessedness against all infants 
without distinction ; for, if they cannot be 
baptized, because they cannot exercise re- 
pentance and faith ; they cannot be saved, 
because they cannot repent and believe: for, 
the scripture says, "He that believeth not 
shall be dammed. Except ye repent, ye shall 
all likewise perish." 

The argument, then, of our baptist brethren 
carried out 3 and thrown into the form of a 
Syllogism, is, as follows: 

We cannot be saved without repentance and faith, 
Infants cannot exercise repentance and faith ; 
Tnerefore, infants cannot be saved. 

We trust enough has been said to demon- 
strate the weakness and the inconsistency of 
of those who manifest their hostility to in- 
fant baptism. 



DOCTRINAL THOUGHTS. 61 

lO. Close Communion. 

We are now prepared to consider the prac- 
tice of close commuion ; or debarring from 
the table of the Lord, acknowledged christians, 
simply because they have not been baptized 
by immersion. They have, in their baptism, 
" the answer of a good conscience toward 
God." They have been sprinkled with the 
blood of Jesus Christ. They are the devoted 
and successful servants of the Most High. 
The God of heaven has stamped his seal of 
approbation upon them: but all this is 
of no avail in the estimation of those who 
practice close communion. They cannot 
have their approbation on any consideration 
whatever except they be baptized by immer- 
sion. They may commune with them at 
the table where all the redeemed are to meet 
in the upper Sanctury, but they cannot com- 
mune with them at the table of the Lord on 



62 DOCTRINAL THOUGHTS. 

earth.* Mark ! at the table of the Lord. If 
it is the Lord's table, it is not man's table. 
Why,' then, should they presume to erect a 
barrier arround that table ? Why should 
they debar the friends of the Redeemer from 

his own table ? I appeal to the common sense 

» 

* Notwithstanding this cxclusiveness of a portion of the 
church of Christ, they admit that baptism is not a saving 
ordinance, that it is u not the putting away of the filth of 
the flesh." They confess that it is a mere sign. 

Again. The inconsistency of the advocates of close 
communion is strikingly apparent. If the Pedo-baptists 
are not fit to sit with their baptist bretheren at the same 
table because they have not been immersed, they are not 
fit to occupy the same pulpit with them : but they are 
very willing to have their Pedo-baptist bretheren preach 
for them, and to be associated with them in all other 
ministerial and christian duties. — Our baptist bretheren 
profess to look forward to the time with no little interest* 
and to pray that that happy time may, ere long, come 
when they shall celebrate the sufferings and death of the 
Redeemer around that board in heaven, with all the blood 
washed throng. — Bat they shrink from a participation like 
this on the road to that world of harmony and fraternal affec- 
tion where differences of opinion are unknown, and where 
"Christ is all and in all." 



DOCTRINAL THOUGHTS. 63 

of individuals, Is not close pommunion con- 
trary to the spirit and genius of Christianity f 
What a disreputable subterfuge to assert 
that the Pedo-baptists will not admit to the 
communion any but those who have been 
baptized ; therefore, they are chargeable with 
close communion as well as others. We deny 
that they are justly chargeable with close 
communion. We do not, indeed, invite to 
the table of the Lord any but those who have 
been baptized ; they must be baptized in one 
form or other, as one of the requisitions 
laid down in the word of God. But we are far 
from assuming a position that a certain mode 
ol baptism is the only proper mode, and then 
resorting to the scriptures to endeavor to 
prove it, and thus debarring from the com- 
munion a brother in the Lord, merely because 
he has not been baptized in accordance with 
a form of our own selecting. Such sophistry 
is easily detected and exposed. 



64 DOCTRINAL THOUGHTS. 



11, An Exposition of Romans 8:29. 

"Whom he did foreknow, he also did pre- 
destinate to be conformed to the image of 
his Son." — The foreknowledge of God is here 
taught. This knowledge is unlimited with 
reference to the past and the future. Om- 
niscience, is one of the attributes of the Deity. 
There can be no God without it,and but 
one God with it. The foreknowledge of God 
is proved from the following passages of 
scripture. "God hath not cast away his 
people, which he joreknew" Rom. 11:2. 
«'Him being delivered by the determinate 
counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have 
taken and by wicked hands have crucified 
and slain." Acts 2:23. '' Elect according 
to the foreknowledge of God the Father, 
through sanctification cf the Spirit unto 
obedience and sprinkling of the blood of 



DOCTRINAL THOUGHTS. 65 

Jesus Christ." I. Pet. 1:2. "Whom he did 
foreknow, he also did predestinate to be con- 
formed to the image of his Son, that he might 
be the first-born among many brethren," 
Rom. 8:29. 

" Whom he did foreknow" Whom he der 
termined to bring to heaven. It cannot 
mean any thing short of this. To pervert 
the phraseology, to presume to make it mean 
any thing but this, is to place ourselves in a 
position not to be able to expound the bible 
by a faithful comparison of scripture with 
scripture. A faithful comparison of scripture 
with scripture is the only method to arrive 
at truth on difficult and controverted points, 
and consequently to dispose of error. Will 
not God hold that individual responsible who, 
in his professed teachings of the bible, will 
not faithfully compare scripture with scrip- 
ture % 

" Whom he did foreknow," that is, 



66 DOCTHINAL THOUGHTS. 

1. Whom he did predestinate to be con- 
formed to the image of his Son. 

2. Whom he did predestinate to be con- 
formed to the image of his Son — purely by 
grace. 

" Graee first contrived the way 

To save rebellious man ; 
And all the steps that grace display, 

Which drew the wondrous plan. 

Grace first inscribed iny name 

In God's eternal book, 
'Tsvas grace that gave me to the Lamb 

Who all my sorrows took. 

Grace led my roving feet 

To tread the heavenly road, 
And new supplies each hour I meet 

While pressing on to God. 

Grace all the work shall crown, 

Through everlasting days ; 
It lays in heaven the topmost stone, 

And well deserves the praise." 

Some have disliked so much the plain, 
bible statement of the case; or in other 



DOCTKIXAL THOUGHTS. 67 

words, they have disliked so much the doc- 
trines of the foreknowledge of God, the 
sovereignty of God$ predestination, etc., .that 
they have adopted theories of their own : 
and in so doing, they have necessarily de- 
parted from the standard. Let us see how 
far they have proceeded, and we shall see 
both the folly and the danger of being wis-e 
6i above that which is written," and in de- 
parting from the authority of God in the first 
instance. 

1. Some assert and teach, that God de- 
signs to save all the human race. All 
punishment, say they, is confined to this life. 

This sentiment carries along with it its 
own refutation. It is contrary to the bible 
and to common sense. iQ It is an indisputable 
fact that, in this world, one event often hap- 
pens to the righteous and the wicked ; and 
not only so, but while the vicious are in 



68 DOCTRINAL THOUGHTS* 

prosperity, we often see the virtuous in dis- 
tress. We believe God is holy, just and good. 
And if this be hi§> character, he will certainly 
render righteous retribution to his rational 
creatures, and will not always suffer virtue 
to be trampled on and afflicted, nor vice to 
go unpunished and to triumph. But this 
would, in a great measure, be the case, if the 
present, were the only state of human exist- 
ence. Admitting, therefore, the moral char- 
acter of God, that he is infinitely holy, just 
and good ; reason requires the conclusion 
that the soul is immortal, and that it will 
exist in another state, where the virtuous 
will be rewarded and the wicked punished. 

Further. If it be agreeable to the char- 
acter of God, to reward the virtuous and 
punish the wicked, and if he does this only 
in the present life, then his creatures could 
prevent his doing that which is agreeable to 
him, and which he designed to do. For if 



DOCTRINAL THOUGHTS. 69 

rewards and punishments extend not beyond 
the present life, a wicked man might avoid 
his desert by putting an end to his existence ; 
and he might also prevent the reward of the 
virtuous man by laying violent hands on 
him and terminating his life : which further 
shows that there must be a state of rewards 
and punishments after this life."* 

2. Some assert and teach that God designs 
to save all, after a limited punishment in 
another world. 

There are three prominent objections to 
this scheme. 

1. Our probationary state is confined to 
this life. 

2. There is no scripture in favor of the 
scheme mentioned. 

• Rev. John McDowell, D. D. 



70 DOCTRINAL THOUGHTS. 

3. This scheme is subversive of the entire 
system of grace as laid down in the word 
of God. 

The questions may be asked, Why did not 
God predestinate all to be conformed to the 
image of his Son? Why did not God make 
provision for the fallen angels ? 

These, it is admitted, are difficult questions. 
They can be solved by no finite intellect this 
side the grave. The only reply that can be 
given, is, " Even so Father, for so it seemed 
good in thy sight " We should oe content 
to leave questions like these for consideration 
in that life which is to come. " What thou 
knowest not now, thou shalt know hereafter." 
We in this life, have enough to do with mat- 
ters that are revealed ; which should be our 
study, and in conformity with which should 
be our daily walk and conversation. Secret 
things belong to God. When we have a 



DOCTRINAL THOUGHTS. 71 

" Thus saith the Lord," that should be suffi- 
cient, even if we do not understand it, if we 
cannot tell the why and the wherefore. To 
reject a thing because our limited capacities 
cannot comprehend it, is the height of folly. 
' Canst thou by searching, find out God, canst 
thou find out the Almighty unto perfection ?" 
There are many things in the book of nature 
that we cannot understand. We are a mys- 
tery to ourselves. That there are some 
things in the bible that are above our reason, 
are evidences of its Divine original. It has 
never been shown that there is any thing 
contrary to reason. Let it be established 
that this book militates against human rea- 
son, and its authority is at once set aside. 

Why should the doctrine of election as 
taught in the bible (not as some have at- 
tempted to explain it) be opposed ? It never 
harmed any one. Its only object is to do 
good. If it were not for the electing love of 



72 DOCTRINAL THOUGHTS. 

God through Christ Jesus, not a single soul 
could be saved. 

No injustice is done any of the human 
race ; " For, all have sinned and come short 
of the glory of God." All deserved to die, and 
all would have gone down to death, had not 
God interposed and predestinated many to be 
conformed to the image of his Son, that he 
might be the first-born among many brethren. 
How many no finite being can tell. " After 
this, I beheld and lo ! a great multitude 
which no man could number of all nations, 
and kindreds, and people, and tongues stood 
before the throne and before the Lamb, 
clothed with white robes and palms in their 
hands, and cried with a loud voice saying 
salvation to our God which sitteth upon the 
throne and unto the Lamb." Rev. 7:9, 10. 



DOCTRINAL THOUGHTS. 73 

12. A Precious Thought. 

It is a precious thought, to my own mind, 
that God has from eternity, decreed the 
means with the end. u According as he hath 
chosen us in him before the foundation of the 
world," here is the end, viz.: salvation, eternal 
life — " that we should be holy and without 
blame before him in love," are the means — 
consequently, a we know that all things work 
together for good to them that love God, to 
them w T ho are the called according to his 
purpose." See Eph. 1:4. Rom. 8:28. 



74 DOCTRINAL THOUGHTS. 

13, The Perseverance of the Saints. 

The doctrine of the perseverance of the 
saints, "tends to encourage christians in 
sin," say some. I affirm it has no such ten- 
dency. Its tendency is entirely the reverse. 
If a christian could at this moment cast his 
eye to heaven and read his own name written 
in the Lamb's book of life, it would be one 
.of the most powerful incentives to duty. I 
answer for no other than the genuine chris- 
tian and the correct view of this doctrine of 
the bible. It is gratifying to refer to the 
.character and lives of christians in every 
age who have been believers in the doctrines 
of grace. 



DOCTRINAL THOUGHTS. 75 

14. Thoughts for a Young Convert. 

You profess, my dear friend, to believe that 
you have been converted to the Lord Jesus 
Christ. 

Look well to it that you build upon a good 
foundation, and that you indulge a "good 
hope through grace." It is of unspeakable 
importance that you set out right ; for as 
you start, you will probably proceed during 
life. If you start right, you will be likely to 
advance right; and if you start wrong, you 
will be likely to continue wrong. Examine, 
therefore, thoroughly your hope and the 
foundation upon which you have so recently 
commenced to build for eternity. 

I indulge the hope that you are a christian; 
notwithstanding, Do not mistake conviction 
for conversion. Not a few have been de- 
ceived. Satan himself, at times, "is trans- 
formed into an angel of light." 



76 DOCTRINAL THOUGHTS. 

In the language of inspiration, a If this 
counsel or this work be of men, it will come 
to nought;" but if it be of God, it cannot be 
overthrown. There is no wisdom, nor un- 
derstanding, nor counsel against the Lord. 
If you are, indeed, a christian ; this is your 
comfort, it belongs to you, and you should, 
lay hold of it. Whatsoever is of God, can- 
not be overthrown totally and finally. It. 
may be vigorously opposed, it may be re- 
tarded for a season, but it cannot be over- 
thrown totally and finally : for, if it could, 
what would it prove ? It would demonstrate 
that the creature is stronger than the Creator, 
which is absurd. ''He who hath begun a 
good work in you, wilJ perform it until the 
day of Jesus Christ. The path of the just is 
as the shining light, that shineth more and 
more unto the perfect day. My sheep hear 
my voice, and I know them, and they follow 
me, and I give unto them eternal life, and. 



DOCTRINAL THOUGHTS. 77 

they shall never perish, neither shall any 
pluck them out of my hand. My Father, 
which gave them me, is greater than all, 
and no man is able to pluck them out of my 
Father's hand. Verily, "VWily, I say unto 
you, He that heareth my word and believeth 
on him that sent me, hath everlasting life 
and shall not come into condemnation, but 
is passed from death unto life." Hath ever- 
lasting life, what is meant by this phrase- 
ology ? spiritual life commenced in the soul 
which shall never terminate; a life is 
commenced this side the grave which is to 
be enjoyed in full fruition in the life to come. 
It is so to speak indivisible life. Who shall 
separate the links of that golden chain which 
connects spiritual life in the soul on earth 
with spiritual life in heaven ? Listen to the 
Apostle Paul as he exultingly exclaims in the 
conclusion of his masterly argument on this 
subject. u Who shall separate us from the 



78 DOCTRINAL THOUGHTS. 

love of Christ ? Shall tribulation, or distress*, 
or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or 
peril, or sword? As it is written, for thy 
sake we are killed all the day long; we are 
accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay ! 
in all these things we are more than con- 
querors, through him that loved us. For I 
am persuaded that neither death, nor life, 
nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, 
nor things present, nor things to come, nor 
height, nor depth, nor any other creature 
shall be able to separate us from the love of 
God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 3 * 
Eom. 8:35—39. 

You will soon begin to think of a home in 
some christian church. This is natural, 
You should thus think and it is fit that you 
should have a home. If your parents 
have a home in some christian church ; it is, 
moreover, natural to desire to be with them. 
It is a delightful spectacle to behold families 



DOCTRINAL THOUGHTS. 79 

unbroken in this respect, Families snould 
not be separated, even in this particular, 
without good reasons. 

It is your duty to become sufficiently ac- 
quainted with the doctrines of the different 
churches and their mode of church govern- 
ment, to ascertain which of them is most in 
accordance with the word of God, and which 
of them meets with your most hearty ap- 
proval ; and thus should you be led, con- 
scientiously, to take a decided stand, though 
you should be alone in your christian pro- 
fession. 

The question is of great importance, ( <Lord 
what wilt thou have me to do?" In what 
church can I be most useful ? How can I 
employ the talents which God hath given me 
to the best advantage ? You should think 
much, read much, and pray much before you 
connect yourself with any church. You 
should study and endeavor to follow the 



80 DOCTRINAL THOUGHTS. 

leadings of God's providence. You should 
go to the Lord for wisdom, as well as other 
needed blessings. Repair daily to the foun- 
tain. Never venture a step in your own 
strength. Be it your determination, in re- 
liance upon Divine grace, to live at the foot 
of the cross. " Trust in the Lord with all 
thine heart, and lean not unto thine own un- 
derstanding. In all thy ways acknowledge 
him, and he shall direct thy paths," 



DOCTRINAL THOUGHTS. 81 

15. Thoughts- for a Back-slider. 

Although you state with apparent confi- 
dence that you are able to point out the lo- 
cality, where ; and the time, when ; you were 
converted to God : it is believed that a ma- 
jority of the friends of the Redeemer are not 
able to do this. God has various methods of 
gathering his elect into his Kingdom. The 
great question, therefore, is not where r 
or when you believe you have been 
born into God's Kingdom, but whether you 
are actually in that Kingdom, whether you 
have been truly converted to God, and have 
been made the subject of his grace. 

You, moreover, state there was a time 
when you enjoyed religion and set a bright 
example; consequently, you conclude that 
you must have been regenerated, though you 
have been living for years in a state of de- 
parture from God. You represent that you 



82 DOCTRINAL THOUGHTS. 

are at ease in your present condition, that you 
are devoid of fear that you shall finally " be 
a castaway from the presence of the Lord 
and from the glory of his power." 

That you did appear to enjoy yourself for- 
merly, in a religious life, is not disputed* 
There is such a thing as self-deception. " The 
heart is deceitful above all things and des- 
perately wicked, who can know it?" You 
may have been mistaken with regard to con- 
version. You may never have been truly 
converted. You may never have had real 
enjoyment. Your motives may have been 
wrong in the sight of a God of spotless pur- 
ity. The principles by which you have been 
governed, may not have been deduced from 
the bible. You may have been trusting in 
your own righteousness instead of the right- 
eousness of Christ. — If you have been, indeed, 
converted to God, if you " have tasted that 
the Lord is gracious," if you have been 



DOCTRINAL THOUGHTS. 83 

brought over into another element: you will 
not live and die in your present condition. 
You can have no peace in living in this con- 
dition. You will have no disposition to live 
thus ; for the obvious reason, sin is not your 
element. 

Besides. " The good Shephard " looks af- 
ter the sheep. He will not suffer his sheep 
to stray away and be lost. When he seeth 
the wolf coming, he leaveth not the sheep and 
fleeth. He does not turn his back upon the 
sheep and desert them. — The christian's hope 
is in God, not in himself, not in any created 
being. Here, in the name of Israel's God, in 
the strength of a crucified, but risen Saviour, 
he takes his position ; His feet are planted 
on the ** rock of ages? Separate him from 
this source, and what is he, and what are his 
prospects ? 

It becomes you therefore as a Back-slider^ 
to tremble lest you have been and are labor- 



64 DOCTRINAL THOUGHTS. 

ing under self-deception. You have great 
cause to tremble, because you have lived so 
long at such a moral distance from God ; and 
on account of your present, colder ay erless^ 
"barren condition. I plead with you cherish 
not too much confidence in the retrospect, but 
begin from this hour, in earnest, to seek the 
Lord while he may be found and call upon 
him while he is near : for, " without holiness, 
no man shall see the Lord." 



DOCTRINAL THOUGHTS. 85 



16. The Safe Side. 



Is it not reasonable, Is it not philosophical, 
Is it not wisdom to take the safe side ? 
Then, beloved reader, be prevailed upon to 
take it without delay. Give the Lord your 
whole heart, your best affections, your in- 
fluence, your all ; live to his praise, seek his 
honor and glory, become his devoted subject 
and servant during life, and it will be yonr 
unspeakable happiness to dwell with him, in 
the celestial City, forever. This is the safe 
side. Whether the docrine of universalism 
be true or false, taking the course above de- 
scribed you will be safe. 

But suppose, on the contrary, you do not 
love God supremely * and live and die in the 

* If a person is not willing to love God supremely, he is 
not prepared to be a christian; he may become a universal- 
ist, or infidel, or atheist. Fallen human nature, naturally, 
slides into fanaticism, error and heresy. But if a person is 
willing to love God suvremcly ; if he is willing to deny 



86 DOCTRINAL THOUGHTS. 

belief of the doctrine of universalism, that 
there is no punishment beyond the grave; or 
in the belief of the doctrine that after a limit- 
ed punishment in a future state, the inhabit- 
ants of the world of woe will be restored to 
heaven — and these doctrines shall prove 
false: can you fail to perceive that you will 
have no chance left you, and that, consequent- 
\y, you must be lost forever ? 

himse]f and take up his cross, and follow the Saviour 
through evil as well as through good report, if he is willing 
and determined in reliance npon the merits of another, in 
the strength of the Lord Jesus Christ to persevere to the 
end, I have yet to learn how he can be otherwise than 
an evangelical and devoted christian. 



D0CTR1XAL THOUGHTS. 87 



IT, J>etacfaed Tlioiigtits. 

The theory and practice are so blended in 
t»e word of Godj that to neglect the one, is 
to do injustice to the other. 

If the preservation of the christian unto 
eternal life, depended upon his oivn power, 
he would never reach heaven ; but it de- 
pends upon the power of God : therefore, he 
will obtain everlasting blessedness. " Who 
are kept by the power of God, through faith 
unto salvation, ready to be revealed in the 
last time." I. Pet. 1:5. 

Those w T hom Christ loves, he loves unto 
the end. The Creator is not fickleminded as 
is the creature. He loves with an everlast- 
ing love. "Having loved his own which 
were in the world, he loved them unto the 
end." John 313:1. 



88 DOCTRINAL THOUGHTS 

The sufferings and death of the Saviour 
for his people, are proofs that none of them 
will be lost. " He that spared not his own 
Son, but delivered him up for us all, how 
shall he not with him, also, freely give us 
all things." Rom. 8:32. 

The attributes omniscenoe and omnipo- 
tence of "the good Shepherd" secure the 
safety of all his sheep, and the young and 
tender lambs of the flock. 

The honor of "the good Shepherd" is in- 
volved in the preservation of his sheep. 

If such men as Moses, who is represented 
as the meekest man that ever lived, and 
Abraham, the Father of the faithful, and Job r 
the most patient man, and the Apostle Paul, 
of New Testament times, failed to reach a 
state of sinless perfection on earth ; in vain 
is it for us to imagine that we shall attain a 
greater degree of sanctification. 



DOCTRINAL THOUGHTS. 89 

I hold and rejoice to hold to the sanctifica- 
tion of fallen man, but the sanctification of 
the soul is one thing, and its perfect and en- 
tire sanctification in the present life is another 
thing. 

Good works are not the ground of our hope, 
but the fruits and evidences of our faith. 

The passage of scripture, " All have sinned 
and come >hort of the glory of God," is a 
har that has u:vev been, nor can be removed 
from the path of him who seeks justification 
by the deeds of the law. 

" Whom he justified, them he also glori- 
fied." Rom. 8:30. It is spoken of as already 
done s Why is it spoken of as already 
done ? Because of the certainty. If there 
were the least uncertainty, the remarkable 
expression, he glorified, would not have 
been made use of. Remove the certainty, 
and the expression, he glorified, is unintelligi- 



90 DOCTRINAL THOUGHTS. 

ble. The phraseology he glorified, is there- 
fore employed because he hath saved the 
justified. He that believeth on the Son hath 
everlasting life ; hath, in the present tense. 
If he hath not already entered upon that in- 
heritance which is incorruptible, and unde- 
filed, and that fadeth not away, reserved in 
heaven ; he hath entered upon that Divine 
life, upon that state of grace here below, ta 
be carried forward, to be perfected in glory : 
this great work being completed, the top 
stone shall be brought forth with shoutings 
of grace, grace unto it. 

" Grace ! — 'tis a charming sound, 

Harmonious to the ear. 
Heaven with the echo shall resound, 

And all the earth shall hear. ■ ' 

In the eternal glorification of all the justi- 
fied, God's design of love hath its full accom- 
plishment. Mark the gradation in the 29th 



DOCTRINAL THOUGHTS. 91 

and 30th verses of this eighth chapter to the 
Romans, 

@& 

4. JIUlSTIiPIJOATO&NI. 

Here :r ay be said to be five links in this 
golden chain. Who shall break this chain 
which reaches from earth to heaven ? Who 
shall show himself stronger than the Al- 
mighty ? — Let but one of these links be 
severed, and there is no hope for a single 
fallen son or daughter of Adam. In the 
stability of this chain, there is encouragement 
for faith Here is the fullest scope for the 
exercise of genuine, living, operative faith. 
Moreover. Here is encouragement for hope. 
I wanf; a good foundation upon which to 



92 DOCTRINAL THOUGHTS. 

build my hope. Here is a tried and sure 
foundation, the rock Christ Jesus. Let me 
build upon this rock, and all the storms of 
earth and hell combined, may be safely 
challenged to demolish the superstructure. 
In this direction is all the encouragement. 
There is not a particle any where else, the 
the theories of men to the contrary, notwith- 
standing. 

How is it with regard to real christians ? 
Have the least and last remains of sin been 
eradicated from their hearts ? Is there any- 
thing in their hearts that should cause anx- 
iety, or produce watchfulness, that renders 
it necessary to stand upon the Watch-tower, 
to fight the good fight of faith, to repair dai- 
ly to the fountain opened for sin and for un- 
cleanness, to seek fresh supplies of God's 
grace, fresh unctions from on high ? — Yes ! 
And they are not to lay down the spiritual 



DOCTEIXAL THOUGHTS. 93 

weapons of their warfare till death. Not- 
withstanding all the controversy with respect 
to the sinless perfection of christians upon 
earth, there is no discharge from this warfare 
till death. "Why then? 

1. Because there will be a separation of 
the soul from the body of this death. 

2. Because there will be a. separation of 
the soul of the christian from the temptations 
of Satan. 

3. Because there will be a separation of 
the soul from this present world. 

4. Because of the glory and immortality 
that will follow in a state of sinless perfec- 
tion around the throne of God in heaven ; 
such as has never been enjoyed, nor can be 
enjoyed by fallen man on earth. — The real 
christian exclaims with the apostle Paul 4 
" Oh ! Wretched man that I am, who shall 



94 DOCTRINAL THOUGHTS. 

deliver me from the body of this death V J 
Rom. 7:24. The body of this death appears 
to have been as troublesome as though the 
Apostle had been carrying about with him 
a dead body, a foreign substance from which 
he could not extricate himself. The body of 
this death caused who to exclaim, Oh ! 
Wretched man that I am, &c ? The Apostle 
Paul, a divinely inspired man, a man that 
had traveled long on the road to heaven, a 
man that had learned in whatsoever state he 
was, therewith to be content. Notwith- 
standing, Hark ! how he complains of this 
poor, weak, fallen human nature, how he 
complains of his corrupt nature, sanctified 
but in part. (Sanctification is & progressive 
work, regeneration, on the other hand, is an 
instantaneous work, the Author of which is 
the Spirit of God.) The Apostle Paul did 
not exclaim, Oh ! Blessed man that I am ! 
Oh 1 Blessed Apostle 1 Oh ! Blessed spiritual 



DOCTRINAL THOUGHTS. 95 

Father of numerous immortal souls! He 
did not exclaim, Oh ! how sanctified ! Oh ! 
how devoid of sin! But, on the contrary, 
Oh ! Wretched man that I am who shall de- 
liver me from the body of this death ! The 
Apostle was a holy man, but he was not so 
holy as he longed to be. To use his own 
language, " Not as though I had already at- 
tained, either were already perfect ; but I 
follow after, if that I may apprehend that 
for which also I am apprehended of Christ 
Jesus." — Who shall deliver me ? How dif- 
ferent his language from those who love sin, 
and plead for sin ! He is sick of sin, sick of 
the body of this death, sick of the remains 
of indwelling sin : no burden so great to the 
heart and mind of the Apostle as sin. The 
imperfections of real christians have always 
been to the day of their death, their greatest 
burdens and trials. Nor do they imagine 
that death is to purity them. They simply 



96 DOCTRINAL THOUGHTS. 

believe that at death, the soul will be re- 
leased from the body of this death, that 
separated from this incumbrance, leaving 
all their sins behind, parting with every thing 
terrestrial, the immortal spirit will wing its 
way from this world, so unfriendly to grace, 
to that bright world above where there is 
fullness of joy forever more. 

I. Tim. 4:10. "Who is the Saviour of all 
men." — How, or in what sense is the living 
God, the Saviour of all men ? Here dis- 
crimination is necessary, because this is a 
controverted point. There are those who 
professing to receive the scriptures as the 
standard, resort to them to endeavor to sub- 
stantiate their own preconceived and favorite 
opinions. We shall find it necessary (in 
this, as in some other cases) to compare 
scripture with scripture. This is the method 
to arrive at truth; and, at times, the only 



DOCTRINAL THOUGHTS. 97 

method by which truth can be elicited, ren- 
dered conspicuous. But to return, How, or 
in what sense is the living God the Saviour 
of all men ? 

JL The living God is the Saviour of all 
men by his providences. 

1. He protects their persons. 

2. He prolongs their lives. 

2. The living God is the Saviour of all 
men, Because of his general good will with 
regard to their eternal salvation. 

He has (remarks Kev. Mathew Henry, the 
commentator on the bible,) " a general good 
will to the eternal salvation of all men, thus 
far, that he is not willing that any should 
perish, but that all should come to repent- 
ance. He desires not the death of sinners ; 
lie is thus far the Saviour of all men, that 



9& DOCTRINAL THOUGHTS. 

none are left in the same desperate condition 
that fallen angels are in." The testimony 
of the inspired record is, " As I live saith 
the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the 
death of the wicked ; but that the wicked 
turn from his way and live. Turn ye, turn 
ye from your evil ways : for, why will ye die, 
Oh ! house of Israel." 

3. The living God is the Saviour of all 
men through his only and well beloved Son, 
Jesus Christ (the second person of the ador- 
able Trinity, who was with the Father from 
eternity,) having assumed human nature. 
" He took not on him the nature of angels 
but he took on him the seed of Abraham." 
Had he not assumed our nature, he could not 
be said to be the Saviour of one of the hu- 
mcin race. We are now prepared to com- 
pare scripture with scripture, and commence 
by quoting the remainder of the verse upon 



DOCTRINAL THOUGHTS. 99 

which we have been commenting, "especially 
of those that believe:' I. Tim. 4:10. " That 
ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the 
Son of God ; and that believing, ye might 
have life through his name/ 5 John 20:31. 
u Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou 
shalt be saved." Acts 16:31. "Repent ye, 
and believe the gospel." Mark 1:15. << For 
after that in the wisdom of God, the world 
by wisdom knew not God ; it pleased God 
by the foolishness of preaching, to save 
them that believe" I. Cor. 1:21. " Unto you, 
therefore, which believe, he is precious." 
I. Pet. 2:7. " If ye believe not that I am he, 
ye shall die in your sins." John 8:24. " When 
he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, 
and of righteousness, and of judgment : of 
sin, because they believe not on me." John 
16:8, 9. "If our gospel be hid, it is hid to 
them that are lost ; in whom the God of this 
world hath blinded the minds of them 



100 DOCTRINAL THOUGHTS. 

which believe not, lest the light of the glorious? 
gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, 
should shine unto them." II. Cor. 4:3, 4. "We 
are not of them who draw back unto per- 
dition, but of them that believe to the saving 
of the soul." Heb. 10:39.— What do we learn 
from this comparison of scripture with scrip- 
ture? We learn that the Lord Jesus Christ 
is the Saviour of those that believe, of those 
who are regenerated and born again, born 
of the Spirit; in a sense that he is not the 
Saviour of those who do not believe. If 
Jesus Christ, then, is not a Saviour of the 
reader in the sense he is of those that believe ; 
he is not in the sense a Saviour to you that 
can savingly benefit your soul and conduct 
you to heaven. — The blood of Christ, in it- 
self considered, is sufficient for all mankinds 
To make it as plain as 1 can, There is such 
a sufficiency, there is so much merit in the 
blood of the Saviour that to save every in- 



DOCTRINAL THOUGHTS. 101 

dividual of the human race, it would not be 
necessary that another drop be shed. All that 
has been shed is indispensably necessary to 
save even a single soul. Notwithstanding this 
sufficiency and this merit, the blood of Christ 
is limited in its application to those that 
believe as has been already shown. He who 
says or teaches that the blood of Christ is 
not limited in its application, says or teaches 
in opposition to the multiplied passages of 
scripture introduced. He takes his stand in 
defiance of the light that is poured upon his 
path from the throne of God. He raises his 
feeble arm in rebellion against the Sovereign 
of the universe. " This is the condemnation 
that light is come into the world, and men 
loved darkness rather than light, because 
their deeds were evil. For every one that 
doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh 
to the light, lest his deeds should be reprov- 
ed." — We take great pleasure in preaching 



102 DOCTRINAL THOUGHTS. 

and believing in the sufficiency of the Saviour. 
We take great pleasure in publishing to the 
world that salvation is as free as the air we 
breathe. "The Spirit and the Bride say- 
come, and let him that heareth say come, 
and let him that is athirst come, and whoso- 
ever will, let him take the take the water of 
life freely" This, then, is the doctrine of 
the bible. While, by my office, I endeavor 
to comfort all true believers and to feed the 
flock of Christ ; I remark, in conclusion, to 
my unbelieving readers* as did the Prince of 
Preachers to the unbelieving Jews, " Ye will 
not come to me, that ye might have life.' 3 



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